B. SMITH BIO

B. Smith is the host of "B. Smith With Style" a half-hour nationally syndicated television series that currently airs in 187 markets nationwide and 90% of the U.S., and 22 countries. In addition to hosting her own show, B. has created a new lifestyle magazine titled B. Smith Style magazine, which debuted in October 1999 and is now in its third edition. Smith is also the owner of three successful B. Smith restaurants: the first in New York's Times Square theatre district, the second in Washington D.C.'s historic Union Station and the third in the scenic Long Island Hampton village of Sag Harbor, N.Y. Teamed with her husband Dan Gasby, television producer and publisher of B. Smith Style magazine, the B. Smith Restaurant Group was formed in May 1998 and is in the process of expanding their restaurant holdings.

As a seasoned culinary and lifestyle expert, Smith was recently recognized by Elle Decor magazine as one of America's 10 most outstanding non-professional chefs in the country. She is also the first African-American woman elected to the Board of Trustees of the prestigious Culinary Institute of America. A frequent guest on television entertainment shows, B. has appeared on "The Today Show," "Good Morning America," "Oprah Winfrey," "Live With Regis and Kathie Lee" and many local newscasts around the country.

In 1995, Smith broke ground in the publishing industry. "B. Smith's Entertaining and Cooking for Friends" (Artisan Press) was the first tabletop entertainment and lifestyle book authored by an African American. She has since signed a four-book deal with Random House Publishing, and the first, "B. Smith: Rituals and Celebrations" (1999) was nominated for a James Beard Foundation Award. Her magazine "B. Smith Style" debuted in October 1999.

Active in the community and the arts, Smith was a founding board member of the Times Square Business Improvement District and is also a member of the Metro-Manhattan Chapter of the Links, the Screen Actors' Guild, Equity and AFTRA.

Smith grew up in western Pennsylvania and later launched her career as a fashion model. During her modeling career, Smith worked with prestigious clients such as Revlon, Clairol, Noxzema, Hertz, Excedrin, Crest and Oil of Olay and has 15 covers to her credit. She was the first African-American woman to grace the cover Mademoiselle and has appeared on five Essence and Ebony covers. In addition, she has appeared as a product spokesperson for over 100 radio, print and television advertisements.